Pinned Tweet
🧵 FROM OLOKOLA TO GATEWAY: THE 20+ YEAR JOURNEY TO NIGERIA'S NEW OGUN DEEP SEA PORT
Yesterday, 24 September 2026, a major new chapter was written in the long-running story of the proposed deep-sea port at Ogun Waterside.
The Ogun State Government and DP World, one of the world's major port and logistics operators, signed MoUs in Paris for the development of the Gateway Deep Sea Port and the Ogun State Blue Marine Special Economic Zone.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu witnessed the signing.
The investment package is expected to attract more than $7 billion in initial investment and create over 50,000 direct jobs, according to the government announcement.
But how did we get here?
Let's go back more than 20 years. 🇳🇬👇
1/ 2004 — THE EARLY BEGINNING
The Olokola Free Trade Zone was formally designated in 2004, according to NEPZA records.
The zone covers approximately 10,500 hectares across Ondo and Ogun and was conceived around oil & gas, manufacturing and industrial development.
This is one of the earliest formal milestones in the Olokola story.
2/ 2004–2005 — THE BIGGER VISION
The original concept was never simply about building a port.
The vision was an integrated economic corridor combining:
🚢 Deep Sea Port
🏭 Free Trade Zone
⛽ Oil & Gas
🔥 LNG
🏗️ Manufacturing
📦 Logistics
⚙️ Petrochemicals
🌍 Export industries
The ambition was to create a major industrial and maritime gateway for Nigeria and West Africa.
3/ 2005–2007 — OLNG ENTERS THE PICTURE
The proposed Olokola LNG (OKLNG) project became one of the major pillars of the development.
NNPC and international energy companies including Shell, Chevron and BG were involved in the proposed LNG project.
The thinking was straightforward:
Energy + Industry + Port + Logistics = Integrated Economic Hub.
4/ 17 APRIL 2007 — OFFICIAL FLAG-OFF
The Olokola Free Trade Zone and Deep Sea Port were officially flagged off at Ode-Omi, Ogun Waterside.
This was a major milestone.
But there is an important lesson here:
A project can be officially launched without being fully financed or constructed.
The project still needed concession arrangements, financing, infrastructure, investors and sustained implementation.
5/ 2008 — PRIVATE INVESTMENT
The project moved towards a private-sector/PPP model.
There was interest from international investors and development-finance institutions.
Associated infrastructure was also developed around the wider FTZ.
But the main deep-sea port itself did not progress into sustained full-scale construction.
6/ 2008 — PIONEER JETTY
A Pioneer Jetty was developed within the Olokola Free Trade Zone.
This was tangible infrastructure.
But it is important not to confuse the Pioneer Jetty with the construction of the proposed deep-sea port itself.
7/ 2009–2012 — MOMENTUM WEAKENS
The project encountered a combination of challenges involving:
• Inter-state coordination
• Ownership/equity arrangements
• Concession structures
• Financing
• Feasibility studies
• Political transitions
• The difficulties surrounding OKLNG
The project required Ogun, Ondo, the Federal Government and private investors to maintain a common development structure.
That proved difficult.
8/ 2012–2013 — ATTEMPTS TO REVIVE IT
The Olokola FTZ continued to be marketed internationally.
Private-sector interest remained.
At various points, completion dates were projected.
But those deadlines passed without the original deep-sea port becoming operational.
9/ 2013 — THE DANGOTE REFINERY CONNECTION
Plans were associated with a major Dangote refinery development at Olokola.
A large refinery would have provided a significant industrial anchor and potentially substantial cargo demand for the port.
The refinery was ultimately developed at the Lekki corridor.
That changed the original economic configuration envisaged for Olokola.
10/ 2014–2019 — STILL A PROPOSED PORT
Olokola remained on Nigeria's list of proposed deep-sea ports.
TóBi🎀 retweeted
Nigerian manufacturing job additions jump 133% to 81,174.
Nigeria’s manufacturing sector added 81,174 jobs in 2025, more than double the 34,769 jobs created in 2024, marking a 133.47.
Nigeria’s manufacturing sector added 81,174 jobs in 2025, more than double the 34,769 jobs created in 2024, marking a 133.47 percent year-on-year increase despite a sharp slowdown in the second half.
The surge in employment was driven by a recovery in factory activity in the first half, supported by a more stable exchange rate for imported inputs, improved business confidence, and a rise in manufactured exports, according to data presented by Segun Ajayi-Kadir, director-general of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, at the association’s 54th Annual General Meeting in Lagos.
Job additions totalled 62,906 in the first half of 2025, but fell to 18,268 in the second half, a decline of about 71 percent within six months, highlighting the sector’s fragile recovery.
TóBi🎀 retweeted
What will heal the broken transmission between the macro and micro economy in 🇳🇬 are trust and fiscal discipline, unfortunately mistrust is at an all time high
TóBi🎀 retweeted
God bless you, Egbon! @R_abati1990
“Ara Ake ma jo, ma jo meji ajogberu ma jo gbeko eru; ni sin ni Eko ko le sin eniyan.”
That really is the point. It is deeply troubling that misinformation, public incitement, and outright rudeness have become so normalised in our public space that one is compelled to ask: Who is in charge, and where is the line being drawn?
A society cannot afford to normalise the erosion of civility, responsibility, and respect for the truth. Freedom of expression must never become a licence to mislead, incite, or demean others without consequence. We must reclaim the standards that make public discourse worthy of a civilised society.
Otunba Segun Showunmi
The Alternative.
TóBi🎀 retweeted
As e dey hot.
Mr Jollof don drop evidence.
Forget propaganda, come and join us.
#Renewedhope2_0
TóBi🎀 retweeted
The ruling party hurt its own economic reform message. When a party youth leader displays indifference to high poverty levels in 🇳🇬, public anger is completely understandable
Sometimes I wonder if he is above reprimand, chastise or caution. Why are the party elders silent about his conduct? Or are there no elders in that party? And the Youth too... una put super glue for mouth? Kini gbogbo radarada yi gan??? 🤔😒🤢
TóBi🎀 retweeted
My full speech at the flag-off of our APC 2027 presidential re-election campaign in Kaduna today.
Thank you, Kaduna.
TóBi🎀 retweeted
Sai Kai. Otunba Segun Showunmi.
The Alternative!!!! Dan Kaduna, Daga Kakuri. Daga Jaji da Samaru Zaria. Namu Namu! Sai Kai.
TóBi🎀 retweeted
"It is a great honor for me to stand before you today, to come to this historical place where the majority of our leaders converged before we gained our independence. We give glory to God, and we pray to the Almighty Allah to grant our departed leaders forgiveness and eternal peace.
My good people of Kaduna, it is good to be back here again.
You have listened to many speeches, and I am not going to bore you. I am happy to be here, and I must thank you for participating in the past elections. You gave me the joy of victory when you elected me as president, and I have come again to thank you for that support.
I am here to seek your mandate for a second term, to keep our promise of prosperity, continuity, progress, and national development.
I hear my opponents talking about hunger and poverty. Who created it? They did! They created the hunger, and they created the poverty. We are the ones working to eradicate it.
We pay salaries regularly, our governors are working hard, and I am proud of the developmental strides they are making across their various states.
To the children and people of our country, this is a promise of second-term prosperity: you will not regret going to the polls.
Do you have your PVC? Show your hands! Keep your hands up!
This is not a matter of anger. Neither is this a matter of anger. Our opponents are angry because of their failures. They have nothing to offer you except backpedaling, whereas we bring prosperity, consistency, growth, recovery, and opportunity. Thank you for this massive turnout.
It is a promise: come January 16, 2027, you must go out massively to re-elect me. APC all the way!
APC for our governors!
APC for our senators!
APC for our honorable members of the House of Representatives and all Houses of Assembly!
Your prosperity is here. Your future is in your hands, and your fingerprints at the ballot will reflect it. Be careful! Watch them closely! Do not let them lie to you. What is past is the past.
The fuel subsidy is firmly behind us. No more corruption! No more falsification of invoices! No more lies! No more fuel smuggling!
May you grant me the privilege to promise you once again, there is a firm promise of a better tomorrow. I salute all our governors.
Today, across the 36 states, I can witness the developmental strides they are making, including paying salaries regularly.
Our party leaders, thank you very much." -
- President Bola Tinubu today at the APC presidential campaign flag-off in Kaduna
#RenewedHopeInKaduna
TóBi🎀 retweeted
“I’m disappointed with the crowd APC mobilised in Kaduna,” says a concerned member of the opposition.
Oga, na our crowd disappoint you, or na your expectations betray you? 😂 You were prepared to mock an empty venue, only to become a crowd analyst. Too early to panic, mana. By the way, thank you all for the extra publicity. Campaigning for us while rooting against us…what a fine display of sportsmanship! 👏🏻✌️
#ArewaForAsuwaju #A4A
TóBi🎀 retweeted
I hear my opponent talk about hunger and poverty. Who created it? They did. They created poverty; they created hunger. We are trying to eradicate it. We pay salaries regularly. Our governors are working.
- President Tinubu today at the APC presidential campaign flag-off in Kaduna
TóBi🎀 retweeted
1. APC supporters of Asiwaju.
2. Rainbow Coalition supporters of Asiwaju (the group I belong to).
3. Disgruntled former Obidients supporting Asiwaju.
4. Bigots for Asiwaju.
5. Well-meaning Nigerians supporting Asiwaju.
Whichever side of the political spectrum you find yourself on, let us put aside our differences, unite around our common goal, and work together to return the Jagaban of Borgu to office.
Our differences should not divide us; our shared purpose should unite us.
TóBi🎀 retweeted
My mum and dad were apparently abusive to me when I was a kid. They made me do household jobs and go to school. They gave me a curfew and smacked my arse when I did wrong. They put food on the table and we were expected to eat it- They put clothes on our backs and we were expected to wear them . They suggested I get a job and work for the things that I wanted. They insisted that I do my best at school, at my job, and to take pride in my work. I grew up with morals, a good work ethic, and respect for the law & my elders. I thank God everyday for my Mum and Dad !
Copy and paste if you had (abusive) parent!!
In the midst of all the rogbodiyan, CBN don approve JPMorgan o. No embezzlement in CBN's corner. I promise you 😛🤭😀
